Hello, I need more advice! Has anyone switched careers to Nursing past the age of 27? I am two years out of college, with a B.S. in Business. I think that I may switch careers to nursing. Because I am married, I can't just quit my job, which means it will take me about 1.5 years to finish all pre-reqs for an accelerated program. I am looking at Akron U, Kent, or UC. I am excited about having a career where I can help people, and feel good about it. Granted there are good days and bad days, but overall, If I become a nurse, I will be making a difference. Is the switch worth it? I could go the pratical route, earn my MBA, get another job and probablly dislike it, or I can take the shadow, decide to pursue nursing and have a great career. By the time this is all said and done, I would be almost 30. I feel as if I would be starting completely over. Am I making mistake to pursue this career change? Help!!
AuntieRN 678 Posts Specializes in Med/Surg. Jan 17, 2008 I graduted nursing school at the lovely age of 41. I too had to work fulltime during school so i started parttime it took me almost 7 years to finish but I finished and it was well worth it. Good luck and enjoy.
LightCommaStix 24 Posts Jan 17, 2008 In my graduating class of 29 students, I was the only one under 30! Nursing as a second career is becoming the standard, not the exception. Many, MANY nursing students are juggling families and a job on top of nursing school. You can do it!!
MNmom3boys 169 Posts Specializes in orthopedics, ED observation. Jan 17, 2008 You are far from the only one doing a switch to a second career. In fact, I think you will find that at 27 (or 30 when you finish) you are young compared to some of us. I have said previously on these boards that when I graduated just after turning 37, I was far from the youngest or the oldest in my class. In fact there are at least a couple threads around here titled "Age you graduated" that will probably make you realize that you are in good (and extensive) company. Try this one to start, or do a search. https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/age-you-will-were-graduated-258820.html I think you will be amazed!Good-luck w/ school. You have a long, challenging, but rewarding road ahead of you! (BTW - I did school [some part-time, some full] married, w/ house and 3 sons, 2 of whom are teenagers - it can be done!)
lucky1RN 140 Posts Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med. Jan 18, 2008 Life is way too short to spend 40 hours a week doing something that doesn't satisfy your soul no matter how old you are. If you know you want to be a nurse, then go for it!
P_RN, ADN, RN 6,011 Posts Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89. Has 30 years experience. Jan 18, 2008 I started school at 17 graduated RN school at 2 weeks short of 30. Go for it. You'll be 30 anyway so why not be doing something you want to be doing at 30.
bill4745, RN 874 Posts Specializes in ICU, ER. Has 15 years experience. Jan 18, 2008 I graduated from nursing school at 33, and am now working in a busy ER at 55 and loving it. I agree with lucky1RN - life is too short to do something you don't love. I have a job I love, a job that will be safe and secure for at least until I retire, and a job where I make a nice salary. Go for it!
MisMatch, LPN 146 Posts Specializes in geriatrics. Has 17 years experience. Jan 18, 2008 27 is young!I just started LPN clinicals, and I'm 51. I'll be 52 when I finish LPN, and a month shy of 54 when I get my RN.Go for it!
Simba&NalasMom, LPN 629 Posts Specializes in LTC. Has 18 years experience. Jan 18, 2008 Turning 30 is going to happen no matter what you decide to do with your life.I did my LPN program when I was 34-35. The oldest graduate in my class was around 55; he was retired military and wanted to buy his own airplane and fly it around. I'm sure he made an awesome nurse. Go for it; you're young yet. :cheers:
mom and nurse 513 Posts Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab. Jan 18, 2008 Go for it! I have no regretssigned Mom and Nursegraduate from nursing school (BSN) at age 45 graduate from nursing school (Masters as an Adult Nurse Practitioner) at age 48 (previous degree in Communication Disorders a/k/a Speech Pathology and Audiology)
csax 10 Posts Jan 18, 2008 Go for it! I graduated in May of 07 and turned 32 while working my night shift on my medsurg floor. After much procrastinating, I finally returned to school to become the RN that I always had dreamed of becoming. Thanks to penny pinching and my husbands support, I made it and it has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made. It is hard work. There are good days and bad days but thats life in general. Sounds like this is something you really want. You have nothing to lose by trying and you will always wonder what could have been if you dont. I am living proof that if you believe in the possiblity, you can achieve the reality! All in all, you are not to old to become a nurse and it sounds like you are considering nursing for all the right reasons. You Can Do It!
Katie82, RN 642 Posts Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM. Has 41 years experience. Jan 18, 2008 If I become a nurse, I will be making a difference. Is the switch worth it? I could go the pratical route, earn my MBA, Am I making mistake to pursue this career change? Help!!Big mistake would be spending the rest of your life doing something you don't like. I taught school for 11 years before I went to nursing school. Never looked back... I did do a little variation of the traditional route, however. Instead of a BSN, I got a BBA in Healthcare Admin and a MBA in healthcare Management. NLN and ANA still consider both healthcare related degrees, so I was able to get RN-C credentials in Womens' Ambulatory Healthcare when I was working Public Health. Nurses are becoming very creative now, you can use what you already have, go for a 2 year degree and augment your BBA.
